Where should the hot wire go on a light switch?
The black (hot) wire goes to the brass screw or into the hole in the back of the device on the same side as the brass screw. This wire is sometimes red. The green or bare copper (ground) wire, if the device has one, attaches to the green screw terminal on the switch or to the electrical box.
Does it matter which side of a switch is hot?
A single-pole switch in a standard AC household circuit does not have polarity, so it doesn’t matter which end of the switch has the hot wire.
In which wire switch should be connected?
The purpose of a switch or a fuse is to break or connect an electric circuit, but they must be correctly connected in the home. A switch or a fuse in an electrical circuit is always connected to the live wire so that the socket or appliance is not live when switched off.
Does a switch go on hot or neutral?
The switch should be on the hot, not the neutral, wire. It’s a safety thing. A switch will work on the hot or the neutral, but if you switch the neutral, the light fixture is still electrically live even with the switch turned off.
Which wire is positive when both are black?
If the multi-colored wire is black and red, the black wire is the negative wire, while the red one is positive. If both wires are black but one has a white stripe, the striped wire is negative, while the plain black wire is positive.
What happens if you wire a light switch wrong?
If a light switch is wired up wrongly, a short circuit may takes place if you give phase and neutral to the switch terminals. Always connect neutral wire to the one terminal of the light and phase to the one terminal of the switch and off wire to the other terminal of the switch to the light other terminal.
Can wiring a light switch wrong cause a fire?
A faulty light switch can make a circuit indefinitely open or closed. There’s not enough load to start a fire.
Does it matter which wire goes where on a lamp?
If you wonder why you have to identify and connect the hot and neutral wires correctly in a lamp, read on. True, the lamp will usually work either way. But the issue is safety. Normally, power (voltage) comes through the tab on the socket base.
Do light switches need to be grounded?
Grounding light switches have become commonplace, used as a preventative safety measure. It is perfectly legal to wire a light switch without the inclusion of a ground. Dimmers will require a ground wire but traditional toggle-type switches will not. Omitting a ground wire on any switch is not recommended.
Do you have to ground a light switch in a plastic box?
Because they are plastic, there is no need to attach a ground wire to it. Since it is made of a non-conductive material, switches and outlets cannot short out if they touch the side of the box. Plastic boxes usually come with tapped screw holes for easy attachment of switches and outlets.
How do I know if my light switch box is grounded?
With the circuit energized, touch one end of the tester to the hot wire, which should go to the smaller slot on the outlet, and one end of the tester to the electrical box (see photo below left). If the tester lights up, the box is grounded.
Why would a light switch have 3 black wires?
One of the black wires is probably the feed from the breaker box. One is probably a feed to the receptacles. The third one would go to the light. The receptacle wire should be connected to the feed wire along with one terminal of the switch.
Can you wire a dimmer switch wrong?
If either wire at the light fixture is still hot then the switch is wired incorrectly. In which case you will need to turn the power back off and unwire the switch and the other wire that’s twisted together in the wire nut. Separate the bare ends of the wires so you can safely turn the power back on.
Do you need special wiring for a dimmer switch?
Replacing a standard single-pole or three-way switch with a dimmer switch is no different than replacing a standard switch. Remember: Dimmer switches don’t work on most fluorescent fixtures, and low-voltage lighting requires special low-voltage dimmers. Remove the wires from the old switch.
Can any light be dimmable?
Most light fixtures will work with standard dimmer switches, including those with halogen and incandescent lamps. LED fixtures, for instance, may work with standard dimmers, but some may need a specialized dimmer. Likewise, not all compact fluorescent (CFL) light fixtures can be dimmed.
What is the extra red wire for?
The red wire is the ungrounded (hot) conductor from one switch, while the black wire is the ungrounded (hot) conductor from the other switch. In the original installation one switch would energize the red wire causing the fan to come on, while the other would energize the black turning on the light.